[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING FRANK BARRIOS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUBEN GALLEGO

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2023

  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and 
mourn the loss of Frank Barrios, a third generation Arizonan and proud 
Mexican American who dedicated over 50 years of service to the people 
of Arizona. I want to express my gratitude for Frank's remarkable 
service to the 3rd Congressional District, to our community, and to all 
of Arizona.
  Frank spent his career in hydrology, utilizing his engineering degree 
to ensure the sustainability of Arizona's water supply. Without these 
efforts, Arizona's growth and success over the past decades would not 
have been possible. He began his career with the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation. From there, he transitioned to the Arizona Water 
Commission, later called the Arizona Department of Water Resources, 
serving as a director for both the Pinal and Phoenix Active Management 
Areas. After retiring from Colorado River Planning in 1998, Frank was 
appointed to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of 
Directors, where he served for 3 years.
  But Frank's impact and his legacy go far beyond his career. Frank 
served as President of 7 boards, won numerous awards and accolades, and 
published several books. He was passionate about preserving the history 
of Mexican Americans in the Valley, fighting to restore a historically 
Latino burial ground in downtown Phoenix and archiving photographs and 
stories. Thanks to his work, the contributions of Latinos to Arizona 
history will not be erased.
  My thoughts are with Frank's family and friends during this difficult 
time. Although he will be greatly missed, his legacy will be carried on 
through the countless lives he touched in his decades of service to the 
people of Arizona.

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